Constantine A. Murenin wrote:
Most noticeably, I fail to see any credits to Reyk Floeter in the
above press release.
Moreover, back when the release was first posted at the above address,
there was no credit even to the OpenBSD project, which I found simply
outrageous! Only after I (and possibly others) have complained to
SFLC did they append the release to give some really vague mention
that OpenHAL is based on OpenBSD's ath(4) HAL.
Eben, is this the work that you are doing in bringing the communities
together, by omitting such vital information as giving credit to the
people and projects who performed most of the work? After all of
these mistakes, after ignoring the ethical side of the relicensing,
after failing to inform when relicensing is even legally an option,
are you seriously even surprised about the negative attention that
SFLC is getting now? Taking a step aside, don't you agree it is
well-deserved?
It is a press release, and an old one at that.
There is no particular obligation to be fair, complete, or credit
everyone with everything.
It might have been politically wise - particularly as there are
mentions of Linux and other developers
to include OpenBSD and Reyk. Of course before posting it they sould
have asked for individual
critiques from every member of the FOSS community.
What the SFLC is trying to do is assure that Reyk get's everything
his license requires, everytime
his work is used or is the basis for a derivative work.
That is not the same as assuring that he gets credit everytime
Atheros, Linux, or OpenHAL are mentioned.
In the specific release you are pointing to, the issue the SFLC was
resolving was whether the Linux Atheros
driver or OpenHAL infringed on Atheros copyrights - a completely
unrelated issue to the current dispute.
While only Linux and the Linux wireless system maintainer are
mentioned, the SFLC basically cleared the OpenHAL
project and probably by implication the BSD Atheros drivers from
copyright claims by Atheros.
In essence rather than maligning Reyk they have agreed to defend his
work should Atheros ever raise a claim,
They may not have named him or OpenBSD specifically, but they have
placed their impramatur on his work.
While credit might have been nice too, the SFLC is basically saying
the OpenHAL reverse engineering work was
well done and does not violate Atheros's copyrights.
The SFLC did Reyk and the OpenBSD community a favor. They did it for
free.
They did it at the request of Linux developers,
and that is who they mentioned in their release.
--
Dave Lynch DLA Systems
Software Development: Embedded Linux
717.627.3770 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.dlasys.net
fax: 1.253.369.9244 Cell: 1.717.587.7774
Over 25 years' experience in platforms, languages, and technologies too
numerous to list.
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of
genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction."
Albert Einstein
